Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Deaf children who are abused are at risk for PTSD in adulthood
By Staff Writer
The results of a recent study on the differences in parental maltreatment between deaf and hearing children showed that youth with disabilities are more likely to be the victims of abuse. In addition, this treatment can lead these individuals to develop mental health problems, such as depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood.
For the study, which was conducted at the Rochester Institute of Technology, researchers conducted a survey of 425 college students asking them to describe any maltreatment they had experienced before the age of 16. Of these participants, 317 could hear and 108 were deaf.
It was found that 77 percent of deaf and hard-of-hearing participants reported experiencing some form of maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse or sexual abuse. Among hearing respondents, only 49 percent had experienced similar treatment.
In addition, maltreatment earlier in life led many to develop a more negative outlook on life and the future. For all the study participants with hearing problems, the rate of depression and PTSD was high, whether or not they had been the recipients of maltreatment.
Based on these results, the researchers hope to shine a light on the issue of childhood abuse in the deaf community. They also belive that this new information can help mental health professionals improve cognitive therapy and other treatments for those suffering from mental and behavioral disorders.
